Multifunctional fastening profile

ABSTRACT

A multifunctional fixing profile-member supports a subassembly to an underfloor region of a rail vehicle. The multifunctional fixing profile-member contains at least one standardized fixing solution by which the subassembly can be releasably connected to the multifunctional fixing profile-member, a first connection region by which the multifunctional fixing profile-member can be connected in a materially engaging manner to a longitudinal carrier in the underfloor region of the rail vehicle, and a second connection region by which the multifunctional fixing profile-member can be connected in a materially engaging manner to a floor of the rail vehicle.

The present invention relates to multifunctional fixing profile-members for assembling a subassembly in the underfloor region of a rail vehicle.

In modern rail vehicle construction, a large number of extremely different subassemblies have to be assembled in the underfloor region of the rail vehicle. Examples of such subassemblies assembled in the underfloor region of rail vehicles are elements of the compressed air or braking system, drive, vehicle box structure reinforcement, fresh water and waste water tank, elements of the heating system, or operationally technical electrical devices. Naturally, those different subassemblies have different geometric formations and constructions. This results in those subassemblies previously having to be fixed by means of complex devices which are individually dependent on the subassembly and having to be secured to prevent inadvertent release. This means that there are used, for the different subassemblies which are intended to be fixed in the underfloor region of rail vehicles, individual profile-members which are provided with fixing solutions which are adapted to the subassembly. In the case of a large number of subassemblies which are intended to be installed in the region of the floor, therefore, it becomes necessary to produce and store a large number of different assembly carriers which are individualized for the respective subassembly and the rail vehicle type. This results in both great technical complexity in production terms and logistical complexity.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide means for the simplified and logistically optimized assembly of subassemblies in the underfloor region of rail vehicles.

This object is achieved by a fixing profile-member according to claim 1.

According to the invention, consequently, a multifunctional fixing profile-member is proposed for assembling a subassembly in the underfloor region of a rail vehicle, having at least one standardized fixing solution by means of which the subassembly can be releasably connected to the fixing profile-member, and having a first connection region, by means of which the fixing profile-member can be connected in a materially engaging manner to a longitudinal carrier in the underfloor region of the rail vehicle, and having a connection region by means of which the fixing profile-member can be connected in a materially engaging manner to the floor of the rail vehicle.

The fixing profile-member according to the invention may advantageously be fixed in a materially engaging manner at any location of the bogie to a longitudinal carrier and the floor of the rail vehicle, wherein the subassemblies to be assembled can be releasably fitted to the rail vehicle by means of the standardized fixing means of the fixing profile-member. It is thereby no longer necessary to store a large number of fixing profile-members which are individualized with respect to the subassembly and the rail vehicle type, but instead it is sufficient to store only one universally usable fixing profile-member.

Examples of the standardized fixing solutions which can be provided in the fixing profile-member according to the invention are threaded holes, through-holes for receiving fixing bolts, such as, for example, studs, cable eye reinforcement members, lugs, threaded rods, or the like. Such fixing solutions are preferably suitable for releasably fixing a subassembly to the fixing profile-member by means of a non-positive-locking connection. Furthermore, there may also be provided means for the positive-locking connection of the subassemblies to the fixing element.

The fixing profile-member according to the invention preferably has a relatively great thickness in order, on the one hand, to provide sufficient mechanical stability for fixing heavier subassemblies and, on the other hand, to be able to provide the greatest possible compensation for tolerances during the assembly of the subassemblies. A relatively large thickness is intended to be understood to be a thickness in a range between 10 and 30 mm in this instance.

The subassemblies may be fitted in the underfloor region of the rail vehicle by means of one or more of the fixing profile-members according to the invention which at any location of a longitudinal carrier in a materially engaging manner, preferably by means of welding techniques. It is thereby possible to be able to freely position the subassemblies in the underfloor region even afterwards, that is to say that it is not necessary already to provide receiving locations for subassemblies during the assembly of the undercarriage on the longitudinal carriers. The assembly flexibility is thereby increased and standardized structural elements can also be used for the longitudinal carriers.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the fixing profile-member has in cross section two members which are arranged in a substantially L-shaped manner relative to each other. The term “in a substantially L-shaped manner” is intended to be understood to mean that the angle at which the two members strike each other is in a range between 70° and 110°.

In another embodiment of the fixing profile-member according to the invention, the connection regions are constructed at the ends of the members of the fixing profile-member in such a manner that a connection region has an abutment face which is formed parallel with the longitudinal extent of the longitudinal carrier and a seam face which forms an angle between 50° and 70° relative to the abutment face, and another connection region has an abutment face which is formed parallel with the plane of the floor and a seam face which forms an angle between 50° and 70° relative to the abutment face. As a result of such an embodiment of the fixing profile-member, it is advantageously possible to connect the fixing profile-member in the region of the seam faces to the longitudinal carrier and the floor in a materially engaging manner, for example, by means of welding, while the abutment faces ensure a reliable orientation of the fixing profile-member relative to the longitudinal carrier and the floor.

As a result of the angle of the seam face relative to the longitudinal carrier or floor, which angle is provided in the previously mentioned embodiment, it is possible, for example, to fix the fixing profile-member by means of a high-strength weld seam to the longitudinal carrier and/or the floor, wherein the angle of the weld face and the resultant geometry of the weld seam ensure good dissipation of the occurring mechanical forces into the longitudinal carrier or the floor, respectively.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provision for a groove to be formed between the abutment faces and the seam faces. An optimized formation of the weld seam root is thereby achieved.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the abutment faces are arranged so as to be offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the members. The arrangement of the abutment faces so as to be offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the members allows improved accessibility to the seam face and further optimizes the force transmission from the fixing profile-member into the longitudinal carrier, in particular in a vertical direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one standardized fixing solution comprises a hole, a thread or a possible screwing connection. The provision of such standardized fixing solutions allows the universal applicability of the profile-member for a large number of different subassemblies. There may particularly be provision for the fixing profile-member to provide for a plurality of different fixing solutions, whereby the flexibility and the application possibilities of the fixing profile-member are further increased. This again reduces the logistical complexity and thus optimizes the production process. The fixing solutions provided in the fixing profile-member are preferably selected in such a manner that all the subassemblies which are intended to be provided in the underfloor region of a rail vehicle can be assembled or fixed with a universally usable profile-member.

According to another embodiment of the fixing profile-member, it can be fixed to the longitudinal carrier by means of a weld seam and to the floor by means of a weld seam or at least one welding spot.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixing profile-member is in the form of an extruded profile-member. This advantageously allows simple production of the fixing profile-members in large batch numbers. To this end, there is pressed an extruded profile which corresponds to the cross section of the fixing profile-member and which is then divided into suitable part-pieces, for example, by means of a saw, water-jet cutting, plasma cutting or the like. The production of the fixing profile-member as an extruded profile-member also results in an optimized grain structure of the material, from which the fixing profile-member is produced, whereby in particular the occurrence of stress cracks as a result of the welding of the profile-member to the longitudinal carrier and/or the floor can be prevented.

It is particularly preferable for the fixing profile-member to comprise an aluminum material such as, for example, an aluminum alloy. Examples of suitable aluminum alloys are the alloys in accordance with EN 13981-1.

The present invention further also relates to the use of a fixing profile-member as described above for the underfloor assembly of a subassembly in a rail vehicle.

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to Figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the assembly position of an embodiment of a fixing profile-member according to the invention in the underfloor region of a rail vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of an embodiment of a fixing profile-member according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the connection region of a preferred embodiment of a fixing profile-member according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the standardized fixing means in an embodiment of a fixing profile-member according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the assembly position of an embodiment of a fixing profile-member 100, 101 according to the invention in the underfloor region of a rail vehicle 900. The multifunctional fixing profile-member 100, 101 serves to fix a subassembly, such as, for example, an element of the compressed air or braking system, drive, vehicle box structure reinforcement, fresh water and waste water tank, an element of the heating system, or an operationally technical electrical device in the underfloor region of the rail vehicle 900. The fixing profile-member 100, 101 has at least one standardized fixing solution 110, 111, by means of which the subassembly can be releasably connected to the fixing profile-member 100. Examples of such standardized fixing solutions are threaded holes, through-holes for receiving fixing bolts, such as, for example, studs, cable eye reinforcement members, lugs, threaded rods, or means for connecting the subassembly in a positive-locking manner to the fixing profile-member. The fixing profile-member 100, 101 further has a first connection region 130, by means of which the fixing profile-member 100, 101 can be connected to a longitudinal carrier 920 in the underfloor region of the rail vehicle 900 in a materially engaging manner. The fixing profile-member 100, 101 can be connected in a materially engaging manner to the floor 930 of the rail vehicle 900 via another connection region 140. A materially engaging connection is preferably brought about by means of welding.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of an embodiment of a fixing profile-member 100 according to the invention. The fixing profile-member 100 has an L-shaped cross section having a longer member 144 and a shorter member 134. Connection regions 130, 140 are at the end of the members 134, 144. The fixing profile-member 100 is welded to a longitudinal carrier 920 in the underfloor region of the rail vehicle via the connection region 140. The fixing profile-member 100 is welded to the floor 930 of the rail vehicle via a second connection region 130. The connection region 130 is constructed at the ends of the member 134 of the fixing profile-member 100 in such a manner that the connection region 130 has an abutment face 131 which is formed parallel with the longitudinal extent of the longitudinal carrier 920 and a seam face 132 which forms an angle between 50° and 70° with respect to the abutment face 131. The connection region 140 is formed at the end of the member 144 of the fixing profile-member 100 in such a manner that it has an abutment face 141 which is formed parallel with the plane of the floor and a seam face 142 which forms an angle between 50° and 70° with respect to the abutment face 141. The abutment faces 131, 141 are formed in such a manner that the fixing profile-member can preferably be fixed to the longitudinal carrier 920 by means of a high-strength weld seam and to the floor 930 by means of a high-strength welding spot or a high-strength weld seam. The abutment faces 131, 141 are arranged offset relative to the respective longitudinal axis of the members 134, 144, whereby improved accessibility to the seam faces 131, 141 and improved force dissipation from the fixing profile-member 100 into the longitudinal carrier 920 are achieved.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a connection region 130 of the member 134 of a preferred embodiment of a fixing profile-member 100 according to the invention. The connection regions of the two members of the fixing profile-member are preferably constructed identically with regard to the profile thereof. A groove 133 is formed between the abutment face 131 and the seam face 132. Optimized formation of the weld seam root or a high-strength weld seam is thereby achieved. The fixing profile-member is connected to the floor 930 by the placement of a welding spot or a weld seam in the region of the seam face 132.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the standardized fixing means 110, 111 in an embodiment of a fixing profile-member 100 according to the invention. A threaded hole 111 and a through-hole 110 are shown by way of example as standardized fixing solutions. It is possible to screw screws into the threaded hole 111 in order to releasably fix subassemblies. There is preferably provision for the fixing profile-member 100 to have a plurality of fixing solutions 110, 111 at different locations of the profile-member in order to obtain an application range which is as large as possible for the fixing profile-members. The through-hole 110 is suitable for receiving fixing bolts, such as, for example, studs. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A multifunctional fixing profile-member for supporting a subassembly in an underfloor region of a rail vehicle, the multifunctional fixing profile-member comprising: at least one standardized fixing solution by which the subassembly can be releasably connected to the multifunctional fixing profile-member; a first connection region by which the multifunctional fixing profile-member can be connected in a materially engaging manner to a longitudinal carrier in the underfloor region of the rail vehicle; and a second connection region by which the multifunctional fixing profile-member can be connected in a materially engaging manner to a floor of the rail vehicle.
 12. The multifunctional fixing profile-member according to claim 11, further comprising two members which are disposed in a substantially L-shaped manner relative to each other when view in cross section.
 13. The multifunctional fixing profile-member according to claim 12, wherein said first and second connection regions are constructed at ends of said two members of the multifunctional fixing profile-member in such a manner that said first connection region has a first abutment face which is formed parallel with a longitudinal extent of the longitudinal carrier and a first seam face which forms an angle between 50° and 70° relative to said first abutment face, and wherein said second connection region has a second abutment face which is formed parallel with a plane of the floor and a second seam face which forms an angle between 50° and 70° relative to said second abutment face.
 14. The multifunctional fixing profile-member according to claim 13, wherein: said first abutment face and said first seam face have a first groove formed therebetween; and said second abutment face and said second seam face have a second groove formed therebetween.
 15. The multifunctional fixing profile-member according to claim 13, wherein said first and second abutment faces are disposed so as to be offset relative to a longitudinal axis of said two members.
 16. The multifunctional fixing profile-member according to claim 12, wherein said at least one standardized fixing solution is formed in one of said two members and is selected from the group consisting of a thread, a screwing connection and a hole.
 17. The multifunctional fixing profile-member according to claim 11, wherein the multifunctional fixing profile-member can be fixed to the longitudinal carrier by means of a weld seam and to the floor by means of a weld seam or at least one welding spot.
 18. The multifunctional fixing profile-member according to claim 12, wherein said two members are an extruded profile-member.
 19. The multifunctional fixing profile-member according to claim 12, wherein said two members are formed from an aluminium material.
 20. A rail vehicle, comprising: a floor; an underfloor assembly having a longitudinal carrier; a subassembly; and a multifunctional fixing profile-member fixing said subassembly to said underfloor assembly, said multifunctional fixing profile-member containing: at least one standardized fixing solution by which said subassembly is releasably connected to said multifunctional fixing profile-member; a first connection region by which said multifunctional fixing profile-member is connected in a materially engaging manner to said longitudinal carrier in said underfloor assembly; and a second connection region by which said multifunctional fixing profile-member is connected in a materially engaging manner to said floor. 